Stormwater Management

This page is dedicated to providing the citizens and property owners of Maplewood with information on the city's efforts to manage stormwater in order to promote the conservation of our valuable water resources.

When rain falls on land and impervious areas, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, it can wash away sediments, oil, grease, chemicals, nutrients, metals, litter and pathogens. Left unmanaged, these pollutants enter our lakes and streams via the storm sewer system, significantly contributing to the degradation of these important resources. Another source of water pollution is the phosphorus from lawn fertilizer. This nutrient turns lakes and rivers green with algae.

Homeowners and commercial groundskeepers need to keep grass clippings from the streets, driveways and other paved areas where they can wash away with stormwater runoff. Grass clippings that fall on paved areas should be swept up!

Environmental Utility Fee

The Maplewood City Council has established protection and enhancement of the environmental features as a high priority. In particular, management of the surface water features of the city is viewed as a critical endeavor that requires a renewed focus. One way of achieving this is through the city's environmental utility fee (EUF) which finances a portion of the city's storm water facilities to manage and treat runoff.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan

Maplewood’s storm water permit requires that the city develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has established 6 minimum control measures the plan must address:

Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control

Illicit Discharge, Detection and Elimination

Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

Post-Construction Storm Water Management

Public Education and Outreach

Public Participation and Involvement

The City of Maplewood is required to prepare an annual SWPPP report detailing the progress made in the previous year toward satisfying the permit requirements. The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission holds an annual public hearing in the Spring to review this annual storm water report. Date for the public hearing is Monday, May 21, 2018 in Council Chambers at Maplewood City Hall. Download the 2017 SWPPP (PDF).

Minnesota State Statute Chapter 471.701 requires that
"A city or county with a population of more than 15,000 must annually notify its residents of the positions and base salaries of its three highest-paid employees."